Grain-drier floor



.fu e e h s w e e h s 2 N MR 0 0 ML HDL TR Am DMD Em .m .HG J.. d. d o M 0 m Patented Dec. 15, 1891l llllx l Mayan-@Err Jaz-0 J. H. RRATHMANN.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

(No Model.)

GRAIN DRIBR FLOOR.

No. 465,203. .Patented Dec. 15, 1891.

we ams versus co1, mmf- UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

JOHANN Il. E. RATHMANN, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

GRAlN-DRlER FLOOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,203, dated December 15, 1891-.

Application tiled May 28, 1891. Serial No. 394,385.' (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHANN H. E. RATH- MANN, a citizen of the United States., residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grain-Driers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of maltkilns or grain-driers in which the floor or floors upon which the malt or grain isv spread are composed of perforated dumping-sections and which lare provided with means whereby a number of sections are simultaneously tilted to discharge the malt into a hopper or upon a dumping-floor below.

The object of my invention is to provide the pivoted floor-sections with a light and powerful tilting mechanism whereby the sections are easily dumped and which shall firmly hold the sections in their normal position in such manner as to relieve the parts of the tilting mechanism from undue strains.

' In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is a fragmentary transverse section of a malt-kiln containing my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the mechanism whereby the tilting devices of the dumping-sections are operated.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A A represent the side walls of the kiln, and B are transverse beams or girders supported at their ends in the side walls.

C are standards secured to the girders B, and D are the perforated dumping-sections, which are journaled centrally in bearings d, arranged at the upper ends of the standards C so asto be capable of tilting, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l. The end portions of the sections are journaled in standards C, supported upon brackets C2, secured to the side walls.

Each dumping-section preferably consists of arectangular frame composed of longitudinal bars d and transverse connecting-bars d2, arranged at suitable intervals, and a top plate d3, of perforated sheet metal, secured to the upper side of the longitudinal fran1e-bars by angle irons or lugs d, arranged on the inner sides of the longitudinal bars. The perforated top plate ot each section extends rearwardly'beyond the supporting-frame and 1 overlaps the front portion of the frameof the adjacent section, so as to form a closed lapjoint between the sections. The front portion of the perforated plate of each section terminates ata short distance inwardly from theedge of the section, and the projecting rearl portion of the top plate of the adjacent scc straightened, as shown in full lines in Fig. l,v

they support the pivoted sections in their normal horizontal position, while upon deiiecting the toggle-bars or moving the same at an angle to each other, as shown by dotted lines in the same figure, the sections are tilted. The pivots f, which connect the lower bars of the toggle-joints to the girder B, are

preferably arranged directly below the pivots connecting the upper bars of the togglejoints to the tilting sections, so that the toggle-bars stand vertically in line with each other when the sections are in their normal position. The bars of each toggle-joint are provided at their adjacent inner ends on their rear sides with stops or shoulders f, which abut against each other when the toggle-bars 5 are straightened and prevent the bars from moving forwardly beyond this position.

G represents a horizontal shifting bar or rod connecting the toggle-joints of the several sections of a series, and whereby the connected sections are tilted simultaneously to dump the malt or grain resting thereon.

The shifting-bar G may be operated in any convenient manner; but the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings is preferably employed for this purpose. Referring to' this figure, l-I is a iioor arranged outside of the IOO kiln, and I is a standard supported upon a cross-piece I,.secured to the joists I2. J is a horizontally-movable rack-bar guided upon a roller j, journaled in the lower portion of the standard I and connected with the shiftingbar G, which latter passes through an opening in the adjacent wall of the kiln. k is a horizontal rock-shaft mounted in bearings at the upper end of the standard I, and 7a is a pinion secured to said shaft and meshing with the rack-bar J, so that upontnrning the shaft inone or the other direction the rack-bar is caused to shift the bar G inwardly or outwardly, and thereby tilt or close the dumping-sections. L is a gear-segment secured to the rock-shaft lc and meshing with a pinion Z. The latter is mounted on a shaft l", which turns in bearings arranged in a standard M, secured to the floor H. The gear-segment L passes upwardly through a slot in the door. N is a' toothed wheel secured to the shaft l', and O is ahand-lever swinging upon the shaft l and having a reversible actuating-pawl-p, either tooth of Which'may be engaged with the toothed wheel N for turning the shaftl in one orthe other direction. tooth of the reversible pawl with the toothed wheel and oscillating the hand-lever the bar G is shifted inwardly andcaused to tilt the dumping-sections, while upon engaging the other tooth of the reversible pawl with the toothed wheel the bar G is shiftedl outwardly and caused to return the sections to their normal f position. Y

The shaft Z is held-against retrograde movement in closing the sections by a detent q, pivoted-to the standard M and engaging witha ratchet-wheel q', secured tosaid shaft. n

As the bars of the toggle-joints stand vertically in line with each other when the dumping-sections are in their normal horizontal position,,thetoggle-bars act as rigid struts or braces which firmly support the descending portions of. the sections and prevent the same from tilting under the weight of the malt or of attendants walking upon the same. The

. toggle-bars thus receive the greater part of Upon engaging the proper The rear or ascending portions of the dumping-sections preferably rest upon rearwardlyprojecting brackets r,'formed-on the standards Cv C.

I claim as my inventionl. The. combination, with the pivoted iloorsection anda stationary support, of a togglejoint connecting the support with the Section on one side of its pivot and arranged to be perpendicular when the section is in its horizontal orvnormal position, therebyforming a rigid support for one side of the section,sub stantially as set forth.

2. The-combinatiomwith a number of pivoted floor-sections and a beam or stationary support arranged underneath the sections, of toggle-joints connecting the pivoted sections i with said support and a shifting-bar connectiing the toggle-joint on the several sections, isubstantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a pivoted floorsection andv a beam or support arranged nnderneath said section, of a bracket or standard supporting the section on one-side of its pivot and a toggle-joint supporting the section on the opposite side of its pivot, subst-anftially as set forth.

` 4. The combination, with the pivoted Hoorsections and their stationary support, of toggle-j oints connecting the pivoted sections with- JOHANN I-I. E. RATHMAN N.

W'itnesses: l

C. F. GEYER, FRED. C. GEYER. 

